Why Does Every Classroom Need Social-Emotional Learning?
Education is not just about making students learn some formulas or phrases about a particular field of study. However, it is the process of making students emotionally or socially better human beings or productive elements of society. That’s why traditional classroom settings and teaching practices have now been flipped with modern factors and strategies.
For example, the introduction of social-emotional learning (SEL) theory in classrooms has changed the personalities of students as compared to their peers because they have now become more self or socially aware to make informed decisions about life.
Educational institutes are emphasising the implementation of this modern practice in the classroom, as it is beneficial for both educators and students.
What is Social Emotional Learning (SEL)?
Social-emotional learning SEL is a teaching methodology or practice that focuses on making students, whether in high school or master’s studies, comprehend their emotions in a better way to make the most out of their lives by making informed decisions. It helps them to comprehend emotions, feel them completely, and show empathy to others.
So that they can build lasting relationships with others, make responsible decisions, and create positive frameworks to achieve their goals without getting sidetracked. All in all, it is a theory that is being used by educators to make students good at social life and academia simultaneously.
What are the Competencies of Social Emotional Learning?
There are five competencies of social-emotional learning that make students and even educators more informed or emotionally stable in life. Each competency has a different impact on student’s lives and solves particular problems related to it. These competencies can be applied in the classroom, at home, and even in student community groups to achieve positive outcomes.
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Self-Awareness
It is a stage in which you figure out your strengths or weaknesses to better grip confidence in your abilities and understand how your identified emotions are impacting your behaviour.
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Self-Management
It is a process of taking control of your emotions, thoughts, and actions in different situations and settings to achieve your goals.
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Social Awareness
Becoming socially aware refers to the process of learning about the ups and downs of other people’s lives who are not from your society or race by stepping into their shoes. It helps students to develop and show empathy towards others.
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Relationship Skills
Whether you are a student or a working professional, you need lasting relationships to excel in networking. It refers to the process of listening to others peacefully and resolving conflicts to know when to ask or offer help.
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Responsible Decision Making
Social emotional learning doesn’t make you selfish to make decisions for the good of your own. On the other hand, it helps you make informed decisions by taking into consideration ethics, safety, consequences, and well being of others as well.
How SEL Impacts Students’ Lives?
You have probably heard a lot about social-emotional learning SEL in conferences and from your colleagues as well. Let’s unwind on how it can improve the lives of students and why every classroom needs a social-emotional learning environment.
Below mentioned five reasons are enough to understand its importance and implement it in your class as well.
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Make Students Better Problem Solvers
Dealing with emotions is the most difficult thing for students, especially when they are in pre-school or in their teen years. That’s why implementation of SEL is necessary in the classroom because it fosters the emotional well being of students by helping them comprehend emotional states better and manage stress, anxiety, or other complexities.
It makes students regulate their emotions, thoughts, and behaviours to make healthy decisions backed by reason, not emotions.
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Reduces Educators Stress
Have you ever felt exhausted at the end of the day? Worry not; you are not alone because many educators feel stressed in class or even at the end of the day. Here comes the need for SEL because it not only saves students from stress but also helps educators to get out of stress and foster work-life balance.
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Works As a Bully Prevention Kit
Students who have gotten bullied or are going to get bullied in their class are more likely to develop negative health effects than those who are far from being bullied.
Social-emotional learning programs help educators or even schools tackle bullying by making the students learn how to empathise with others, respect differences of opinion, negotiate conflict and ask for help in need.
It makes them understand the consequences of their retaliatory actions and encourages them to opt for conflict-resolving practices like reporting abuse to authorities. All in all SEL programs create improved self-esteem and self-confidence in students to foster a positive and inclusive school environment safe for all.
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Increases the Chances of Getting Employed
Employers are more likely to hire professionals who are emotionally sound, socially active persons, and are good at decision-making and conflict resolution along with a grip on technical skills. Social-emotional learning programs focus on developing strong communication, collaborative working, and problem-solving skills in students to make them a better human resource.
When a student is equipped with all these skills, navigating professional relationships, adapting to different working environments, collaborating effectively, and showing self-discipline at work becomes an easy task for them.
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Prevents Students from Doing Criminal Activities
Students who have anger issues and are bullied in school tend to end up doing criminal activities due to a lack of counselling or training at school. Social-emotional learning programs are designed to help students develop self-control and discipline in class to make ethical decisions and respect the expressions or actions of others.
Conclusion
Creating a positive learning environment where students can learn the art of dealing with real-life problems is not possible without using social-emotional learning practices in the classroom. That’s why introducing social-emotional learning practices by the educator is necessary to make every student self-aware, a problem solver, or a better decision-maker in life.
